This children’s article, Helpful mice tidy sheds in the night, has been written for learners of English as a second or foreign language. It can help children practise reading and comprehension, learn useful vocabulary, and enjoy a fun story about a surprising animal helper. Written by Sinead O’Carroll, a writer and EFL teacher since 2017.
Surprise shed cleaners
Many people feel a bit uneasy about the idea of a mouse living in their home, shed or garden. If we saw one running across the floor, we might even scream! But some people have noticed something unusual, and rather helpful, about a few of these furry little visitors.
In Builth Wells a town in Wales, a man noticed strange things happening in his shed.
First, he spotted some bird food that had somehow ended up inside an old pair of shoes. Then, he saw that small objects like clothes pegs, corks, and screws had been tidied into a box. This happened again the next night.
To find out what was going on, the man set up a night-vision camera. When he checked the footage, he discovered a tiny mouse, hard at work, tidying up the shed!
The helpful mouse continued doing this for two months.
Watch the video of the mouse in Builth Wells here.
Not just one neat freak mouse
This wasn’t the first time a mouse cleaner had been spotted. In 2019, a man in Bristol, a city in England, also noticed something odd in his garden shed. He’d left some bird food in a container one evening. The next morning, he found a screw inside it. The same thing happened again — this time with even more small items.
So, he set up a night-vision camera too. Sure enough, he caught a little mouse on video, picking up things and placing them carefully in the container.
Watch the video of the mouse in Bristol here.
Why are mice doing this?
We don’t know exactly why these mice are tidying up. Some people think the mice are storing useful items or hiding bits of food to eat later. Others believe it’s just part of how mice behave when they feel safe and want to create a cosy space.
Whatever the reason, it’s clear that not all mice are messy. In fact, some are even tidier than humans!
Would you like a neat little mouse cleaning your bedroom while you sleep?
Article vocabulary list
- Uneasy – feeling a bit worried or unsure
- Shed – a small building, usually used for storage or work
- Tidying – putting things away or making a place neat
- Night-vision camera – a camera that can record in the dark
- Footage – video that has been recorded
- Cosy – warm, comfortable and safe
Comprehension questions
Just click the plus (+) to see the answer
1. Where did the man in Builth Wells spot the bird food?
a) In a cupboard
b) In his shoes
c) In a tree
Answer: b) In his shoes
2. What kind of camera did the men use to see the mice?
a) A sports camera
b) A webcam
c) A night-vision camera
Answer: c) A night-vision camera
3. What was unusual about the objects in the shed?
They were tidied away into a box overnight.
4. Why do people think the mice are tidying up?
They might be storing food or making a cosy, safe place.
5. Where did the second helpful mouse live?
a) London
b) Bristol
c) Edinburgh
Answer: b) Bristol
Sinead is a writer and EFL teacher with eight years’ experience. She’s a native English speaker who loves making news stories fun and easy to understand for children around the world. Her passions include travel, animals, and helping to make the world a kinder, more sustainable place.
